MR. MACDONALD CAMERON (Wick, &c.)asked the Lord Advocate, Whether his attention has been called to an article in The John o' Groat Journal of the 8th instant, which complains that the trustees of the Hemprigg Estates, in the vicinity of Wick Lane, have infringed the immemorial rights of the people of that burgh by erecting barbed wire fencing along the river's bank, which fencing encroaches on the public right of way; and, whether Her Majesty's Government will consider the expediency of taking such action as will enable the people of Wick to recover what they regard as their ancient rights, and further prevent the possibility of encroachments being made by private individuals upon the rights of communities?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. H. A. MACDONALD) (Edinburgh and St. Andrew's Universities)I have not seen the article to which the hon. Member's Question refers. But, assuming the correctness of the statements in the Question, they relate to matters which can only be dealt with by the Civil Court. Neither Her Majesty's Government nor the Crown Departments would have any locus standi in proceedings relating to a right-of-way along a river bank, and 975 any members of the public can competently sue a proprietor who interferes with them in their exercise of such a right where it exists.